The position description number for this COTA announcement is 6C138B.

This is a developmental position leading to the full performance level of GS-12 (position description number 6C1380).

Employees selected under COTA will work in a training capacity toward the full performance level of this position. Management arranges structured training and development activities to provide experience and technical competence in the methods, procedures, principles and techniques of the full performance level. The appropriate manager may noncompetitively promote the trainee to the next grade provided work at the higher level continues to exist, the employee has demonstrated the ability to perform it and the trainee meets time-in-grade and other administrative requirements.

A summary of the major duties is shown below. You may also view the full position description on the agency intranet at the following link: PD Search.

At the full performance level, incumbent performs a variety of budget analysis functions in assigned areas. Work may be performed in any segment of the normal range of budget administration work including budget formulation, budget presentation or budget execution. The incumbent develops, issues and interprets SSA policies, procedures and instructions for budget formulation, agency fund control and/or employment ceiling management. Duties typically performed include the following: assisting in the preparation of budget estimates and SSA's budget justifications; interpreting OMB directives and circulars; providing confidential advice to agency officials on sensitive and confidential budget matters; reviewing and editing component and office budget submissions for reasonableness, accuracy and conformance with procedures and guidelines; negotiating budget funding amounts, timing and changes with program managers; monitoring actual expenditures against spending plans; and recommending reprogramming of funds as needed.

-- Develops, plans and executes a segment of SSA's budget, develops recommendations to the Team Leader or Senior Analyst for staffing and fund allowances for assigned areas of responsibility.

-- Interprets fiscal policies for the assigned areas; assures that operating officials clearly understand SSA budget instructions.

-- Develops outlay plans and evaluates current agency program expenditure experience, as well as policies and procedures related to program expenditures. Makes recommendations for revised policies to reduce outlays.

-- Works with other analysts within OB and with other component analysts outside of OB.

-- Prepares both written and oral presentations for internal and external use.

Conditions of employment

• All application materials must be received by the closing date.
• Applicants must be in good standing.
• Applicants must have a fully successful rating of record.
• Official Personnel Folders will not be reviewed.
• Requests for copies of application documents will not be accepted.
• All application forms submitted become the property of SSA Human Resources.

Applicants will rated using a 100-point scale and evaluated according to the following criteria:

-- Experience Assessment*: 50 points
-- Performance Appraisal: 35 points
-- Awards: 10 points
-- Career Achievements: 5 points


*Experience Assessment -- Your SSA-45 should describe actual duties you perform that demonstrate how you meet the following knowledge, skills and abilities.

-- Knowledge of the federal budget process (possible 13 points)
NOTE: this KSA does not apply to COTA applicants

-- Knowledge of federal programs and program policies (possible 13 points)

-- Ability to maintain effective working relationships (possible 11 points)

-- Skill in written and verbal communication (possible 13 points)

The minimum qualifications for this position have been modified under the Career Opportunities Training Agreement (COTA). Applicants must receive 50% of the total points for the KSAs identified for the position in order to minimally qualify for this position.

Total Points Possible: 50
Total COTA Points Possible: 37

Qualifications

READ BOTH QUALIFICATIONS STATEMENTS LISTED BELOW VERY CAREFULLY.

If you meet any of the full qualifications, you are not eligible under this COTA announcement. Consider applying for this position under SH-10031706 instead.

FULL QUALIFICATIONS - at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at (or equivalent to) GS-07 or above which primarily consists of providing standard and/or routine administrative support in at least one phase of budget administration (e.g., budget formulation, budget presentation or budget execution). Typical duties should include providing information to components on types of funding available; legal uses of available funds and timeframes for spending. Experience should demonstrate knowledge of laws, regulations and/or policies pertaining to budget administration.
OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree
OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree (generally at least 36 semester hours beyond a bachelor's degree)
OR a combination of specialized experience and qualifying education (as described above) that can be combined to equal 100% of the requirement.

If you do not meet any of the full qualifications above, you may apply under this COTA announcement if you meet the following:

MODIFIED COTA QUALIFICATIONS - you must hold a permanent position at or above GS-09, WG-13, WL-10 or WS-05 AND must have at least 52 weeks of experience performing general duties that contribute towards the workload goals of an office or component. *Qualifying duties must be at a level equivalent to GS-07 or above and include adhering to specified deadlines; using computers and automated systems to complete work assignments; filing and/or disseminating informational material; generating routine correspondence; drafting standard reports; applying regulations or procedures to program or management operations; and communicating effectively, both orally and in writing. Such experience must be clearly described in your SSA-45.

COTA applicants must meet 50% of the total points for the Ranking Criteria on which COTA applicants are rated.

Affirmative responses to the experience and eligibility questions in the online questionnaire are subject to verification.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

This COTA position can only be filled by reassignment or change-to-lower-grade, so there are no time-in-grade requirements. Note that time-in-grade is a separate requirement from 52 weeks of specialized experience.

Employees who are changed-to-lower-grade into COTA positions will have their salaries set in accordance with SSA Salary Setting Policy (e.g., if your current salary exceeds the maximum salary listed, you will be entitled to pay retention at your current salary).

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will be assessed using the rating criteria listed in the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10031714

This is a COTA vacancy announcement that will result in selectees being placed into a training program designed to help you meet the full qualifications for the position - you are not eligible for this vacancy announcement if you already meet the full qualifications (see QUALIFICATIONS section). READ THAT PAGE CAREFULLY - if you meet the full qualifications, apply for SH-10031706 instead.

You are eligible to apply under this COTA announcement ONLY if you hold (or previously held) a permanent position at or above GS-09, WG-13, WL-10 or WS-05) AND you do not meet the Full Qualifications stated above.

Your preliminary rating will consist of the following: first, your eligibility for this vacancy will be verified. If you provide a response to the online questionnaire that indicates you are not eligible, or you are otherwise found ineligible during this part of the review, you will not receive further consideration. Choose your responses carefully!

If you are rated 'eligible' you will receive a score based on your responses to the remaining online questions.

If you are among the highest-ranking applicants based on that score, your SSA-45 will be reviewed to determine if you demonstrate the required experience at the indicated grade level. It is recommended that you separate your qualifying grade-level experience from all other experience (e.g., if you are or were in a career-ladder position for which some of your experience is qualifying, separate that experience from all other experience to clearly establish that the duties you describe are [or were] at the required grade level for at least 52 weeks).

Your SSA-45 must also support your answers to the questionnaire. It isn't necessary to address each question individually, but you should provide a clear description of the duties you perform that pertain to the experience needed for this position. If you choose to provide narrative responses to the experience questions, it's suggested that you first complete the SSA-45 (which demonstrates that you have the required experience) and then provide narrative responses in a separate document.

If you are among the highest-ranked applicants and your SSA-45 clearly demonstrates that you meet the stated qualifications at the indicated grade level, your name will be referred to the selecting official and your applicable documents will be forwarded for further review.

Please answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your evaluation. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience is subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience to support your answers or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.